Econ 305: Marxian Economics

Developed by Professor Stephen Resnick

Department of Economics
University of Massachusetts Amherst
Overview
Marx and his followers provided a profound critiue of capitalism and it is a critiue unlike any other
you may have heard! "t is a criticism that has bothered and provoked non#Marxists ever since Marx first
developed it in the late $%
th
century! "n fact& it so bothers individuals and societies that it su''ests one reason
why Marxism is rarely tau'ht and often suppressed! Presentin' and explorin' this critical idea is a central focus
of economics ()*! +e will also 'ive an overview of the core elements of Marxian economics, an understandin'
of the class process as the or'ani-ation of surplus value. an analysis of the relationship between class and non#
class processes usin' the concept of overdetermination. the epistemolo'ical foundations of Marxian theory
/includin' a discussion of empiricism& rationalism& and dialectics0. and other topics! 1he course ends with
application of Marxian concepts to understand the stress and strain of US capitalism over the last four decades!
2verall& the course offers both Marx3s theory of society 4 sometimes referred to in the Marxian tradition
as 5historical materialism6 # and his theory of how thinkin' connects to materiality /namely& the world0 4
typically referred to as 5dialectical materialism!6 "t en'a'es with social& economic& and philosophical thinkers
on these issues alon' the way!
An Online Course Is it for You?
1his course reuires a basic understandin' of internet browsin'& email& and word processin'! +ith these&
you should have little trouble learnin' how to use UMass2nline 4 the 7lackboard 8ista learnin' mana'ement
system used for the course! 1he online discussion component of the course provides a 'reat opportunity to
develop your ideas in collaboration with others!
1here is one or more readin' and video lecture associated with each day of the course& involvin'
substantial amounts of effort over the rou'hly *#week period in which the course runs! "f you have a heavy
work schedule& this class may not be for you! 1his course also involves a lot of written work! Each week you
will be reuired to post responses to discussion uestions& comment on others3 responses& and& durin' certain
periods& write essays! 9ote also that the discussion uestions must be completed in a timely manner if you are to
receive full credit 4 and that the discussions will close once the window for them has passed!
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Deadlines for this course will be strictly enforced& 'iven the fast#paced nature of the course! :ailure to
meet scheduled reuirements may put you at serious risk of failin' the course 4 a si'nificant waste of time&
ener'y& and money! Please note tat all times an! !ea!lines are accor!in" to Eastern #tan!ar! $ime%
"f you have a documented learnin' disability& please contact the course instructor durin' the first week of
class about accommodation!
+ith the above points addressed& that3s it for technical details 4 read below for information on readin's&
a brief motivation for the course& information on how you will be evaluated& and finally& a class schedule! ;ood
luck< =our instructor is here to help. you may email the instructor directly or post to the troubleshootin'
discussion board with any uestions about the course 4 lo'istical& substantive& or otherwise!
&oo' to &e Purcase!
Marx& >arl! Capital: Volume 1: A Critique of Political Economy /Pen'uin ?lassics& $%%@0!
Please note that the specific publisher3s edition matters 'reatly for the course 4 so please make sure to
obtain the Pen'uin ?lassics edition! All other readings can be found on the course website through the calendar
tab on Spark !ust click on the appropriate day"
Course Outline: Mo!ules an! (ritten )e*uirements
#odules: $ectures and %eadings
1he course is divided into seven modules! +ithin each& there are Professor Resnick3s lectures& reuired
readin's& 'raded discussion uestions& and optional self#check uestions! 2n the course calendar you can find
links to the lectures& readin's& as well as the 'eneral and self#check uestions 4 more about that below!
Calendar
1he ?ourse calendar or'ani-es the entire course! "t contains links to the video lectures& readin's&
assi'nments& discussion uestions& and exams! ?heck the calendar daily to keep up with the course!
%equirements
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"n this course& you will be reuired to submit a total of ei'hteen typed& double#spaced pa'es /three six#
pa'e papers& or six three#pa'e papers0& participate in seven discussions& and complete a final exam!
A% Ei"teen written +a"es coverin" mo!ules I trou" ,II
1. Modules "& ""& and """! Each student has a choice to write, either one double#spaced paper of six pa'es
answerin' one uestion from a list of 5part A uestions6 from essay assi'nment $& or two double spaced
papers& eac three pa'es& from the list of 5part 7 uestions6 'rouped under essay assi'nment $! 1his
first part of the written reuirement counts for -0. of /our final "ra!e!
2. Modules "8 and 8! Each student has a choice to write, either one double#spaced paper of six pa'es
answerin' one uestion from the list of 5part A uestions6 in essay assi'nment @ or two double spaced
papers& eac three pa'es& from the list of 5part 7 uestions6 from essay @! 1his second part of the
written reuirement also counts -0. of /our final "ra!e!
3. Modules 8" and 8""! Each student has a choice to write, either one double#spaced paper of six pa'es
answerin' one uestion from the list of 5part A uestions6 from essay ( or two double spaced papers&
eac three pa'es& from the list of 5part 7 uestions6 from essay (! 1his third part of the written
reuirement counts -0. of /our final "ra!e!
&% Class 0iscussion
Each student is 'raded on his or her participation in a 'eneral class discussion! Participation will count
for -1. of te final "ra!e! A list of the seven uestionsAtopics can be found on the course website under
5Discussions6& and each of these uestions is wort 3.2 or 3 +oints! Students are reuired to be n active
participants in 'roup discussions!
1he contribution of each student will be of two sorts, first& each is expected to write a three para'raph
response respondin' directly to the topic at hand /wort -.2 or two +oints2 eac0. in addition& each student
writes a two para'raph response to other students3 discussion /wort 1.2 or one +oint2 eac0! 1here are seven
of these reuired 'roup uestionsAtopics! Each student will receive up to two points for each of his or her direct
responses to the listed uestionAtopic and up to one point for his or her response to the 'roup discussion! 1he
course instructor Bud'es the uality of these reuired class discussions!
C% 3inal exam
Each student is reuired to take a multiple choice final exam that covers the materials only in modules
8" and 8""! 1his exam counts 14. of te final "ra!e!
Academic Conesty
1he purpose of this course is to learn about Marxian economics! ?heatin' does not help you learn the
material& it is not fair to other students& and it will not be tolerated! +hile academic dishonesty covers a ran'e of
activities& more serious and blatant forms of cheatin' may result in a failure in the course! "t is cheatin' to copy
someone else3s words without uotin' /pla'iarism0 and chan'in' only a few words is not enou'h to make it
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5your own words6! "t is also cheatin' for two people to Bointly do an exam& or turn in the same writin' piece
without identifyin' it as a Boint effort! =ou are responsible for knowin' and understandin' the university
'uidelines on academic honesty& which can be found at
http,AAwww!umass!eduAdeanDstudentsAcodeofconductAacadhonestyA!
1echnical Celp with "nternet Access to the ?ourse
"f you have technical uestions& contact by email, amherstsupportEumassonline!net& or by phone, $#
FFF#())#GH)I! :or more options& visit https,AAlo'in!umassonline!netAamherst!cfm! =ou can always contact your
instructor if you have additional uestions!
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